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You can remove any oil stain from your carpeting by using one of the methods outlined below. Prior to beginning the method, place a cloth or paper towel on the stain and blot gently. Be careful not to rub the oil deeper into the carpet fibers. Work from the outside of the stain in towards the center. The type of oil spilled makes no difference, as these methods work for motor oil, olive oil, baby oil, and all other types of oil.
Steps
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Cover the stained area with baking soda or corn starch. Sprinkle the powder liberally and don’t worry about using too much. Both baking soda or corn starch are absorbents that will “soak up” moisture, especially oil. They will not stain or damage carpeting. [1] X Expert Source Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.- One advantage of baking soda or corn starch is that they are very inexpensive.
- Another advantage is that they are non-toxic and made from organic materials. Neither baking soda nor corn starch will have a negative effect on the environment or on your body.
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Rub the baking soda or corn starch into the carpeting. Avoid rubbing too softly or too harshly. Use just enough force for the baking soda or corn starch to penetrate into the carpet’s fibers. Use a utility brush for larger oil stains, and an old toothbrush for small stains.Advertisement
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Allow the baking soda or corn starch to set, and then vacuum it up. This means leaving the powder alone for at least 15 minutes. Now that the baking soda or corn starch has absorbed the oil, use a vacuum cleaner to suck it out of your carpeting. [2] X Expert Source Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.- Vacuum very thoroughly to remove every last bit of powder.
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Squirt a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent onto the stained area. Rub the detergent into the carpeting with a utility brush or an old toothbrush. Pour a small amount of warm water over the area and immediately blot up the detergent with a clean cloth or sponge. [3] X Expert Source Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.- Don’t be alarmed if the process creates soap suds, just keep blotting until all of the detergent is removed and the carpet is relatively dry.
- The more detergent and water you use, the longer the process will take.
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Allow the carpeting to dry completely. Inspect the fibres carefully for traces of oil. Repeat the process if the stain is still visible. [4] X Expert Source Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
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Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth or paper towel. Be aware that rubbing alcohol is toxic and flammable. Always use rubbing alcohol in a well ventilated area and wash your hands thoroughly after handling it. Keep it away from children and pets. [5] X Trustworthy Source U.S. National Capital Poison Center Independent poison control center providing resources to prevent poisonings and save lives Go to source
- If handled with caution rubbing alcohol is entirely safe.
- One benefit of rubbing alcohol is that most people already have it in their medicine cabinet.
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Press the rubbing alcohol onto the stained carpeting. After doing so thoroughly, let the carpeting dry. If the oil stain is still visible, repeat the process using more rubbing alcohol.
- As rubbing alcohol is a solvent, it will help to dissolve the oil and separate it from carpet fibers.
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Remove excess rubbing alcohol from the carpeting. Once the carpeting has sufficiently dried and the stain has been erased, rinse the entire area with water, and blot the water out with a fresh cloth or paper towels. This should take care of any residual alcohol and reduce the odor.
- Do not use air fresheners or fragrances to deal with the smell, as this may only make matters worse.
- Open windows and turn on a fan; improving ventilation is the best approach. [6] X Research source
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Test the dry cleaning solvent before applying it to the oil stain area. Apply dry cleaning solvent to a clean cloth or paper towel, and press it against a small, hidden area of your carpeting. After several minutes, take a damp cloth and blot out the solvent. Allow test area to dry, and make sure the solvent did not leave a stain or remove dye from the carpeting.
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Apply the dry cleaning solvent to the oil stain area. Using a cloth or paper towels, press the solvent into the stained carpeting, moving from the outer edges to the middle of the stain. Press hard enough for the solvent to penetrate deep into the carpet fibers. [7] X Research source
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After 5 minutes, take a damp cloth or paper towel and blot up the dry cleaning solvent from the carpeting. Then allow the stain area to dry. Try using a fan or dehumidifier in the room to speed the drying process.
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Examine the dried carpeting for any traces of the oil stain. If traces are found, repeat the process described above. You may need to clean the area multiple times before the stain disappears completely. This is normal with oil stains because the oil may seep up through the carpet fibers after the initial cleaning.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you get oil stains out of carpet?Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.Dab and soak up as much of the oil as possible with an absorbent towel. Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch generously over the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes.This will soak up the majority of the oil without spreading it to the rest of the carpet. Vacuum the powder away. Next, dab the stain with a towel with a mixture of water and a few drops of dishwasher detergent. Dab with just warm water and a towel to remove as much of the soapy mixture as possible. Be sure to dab and never to wipe, as this can cause the stain to spread. Let the stain air dry and repeat the steps if necessary. It is important to remove oil as soon as possible before it causes permanent staining with age.
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Tips
- Blot out as much of the oil as possible with a cloth or paper towels as soon as you discover the stain. If the spilled oil or grease soaks down into the padding beneath the carpet, you may need to call in a professional carpet cleaner, so it is important to soak up the oil spill as possible before it sets.Thanks
- If a spill is very large, try using an old bathing towel instead of a cloth or paper towels.Thanks
- If the stain persists after repeatedly attempting one method, try a second.Thanks
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Warnings
- Be careful not to pour rubbing alcohol directly onto a stain. Although rubbing alcohol can be effective, if you use too much it may soak into the carpet backing. Alcohol that reaches the backing can destroy it by breaking down the latex bond, damaging your carpet.Thanks
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References
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ http://www.poison.org/articles/2012-dec/rubbing-alcohol-only-looks-like-water
- ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-carpet/
- ↑ https://housecleaningcentral.com/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/remove-carpet-stain/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To remove oil stains from carpeting, cover the stain with baking soda or corn starch, and rub it in with an old toothbrush or scrub brush. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then use a vacuum to remove the baking soda or corn starch. Next, rub in a few drops of dish soap, then pour warm water over the stained area. Afterwards, blot with a clean cloth or sponge until all the soap is removed. Finally, air dry the carpet by hanging or laying it out in a well-ventilated area. For more tips, including how to remove oil stains with rubbing alcohol, scroll down.
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Reader Success Stories
- "Method #1 works beautifully! My husband tracked used motor oil onto the carpet; 4 big, perfect, greasy black boot prints on a tan-colored carpet. I got them out in 20 minutes, 15 minutes of which was simply letting the baking soda sit and absorb. No sign of the oil." ..." more
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"Method #1 works beautifully! My husband tracked used motor oil onto the carpet; 4 big, perfect, greasy black boot prints on a tan-colored carpet. I got them out in 20 minutes, 15 minutes of which was simply letting the baking soda sit and absorb. No sign of the oil."
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"My child accidentally spilled 4 oz of cod liver oil on white living room carpet. I followed the steps above, repeating the baking soda multiple times, and finally using rubbing alcohol. The fishy oil is now out of the carpet!"
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"I had some small spots on carpet from garage opener (oil) & the baking soda took the two spots up! Thanks for this suggestion."
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"This helps so much! Now I can get a household chore done!"
"Thank you for the great ideas!"
